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Televised Emergency Information Must Be Accessible, FCC Reminds

Video programming distributors must make televised emergency information accessible to those with disabilities, said an FCC reminder public notice Thursday. Rules require video emergency information provided in newscasts or interrupting newscasts to include aural descriptions on the main audio feed,…

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and such information must be accompanied by a tone on the main audio and available aurally on the secondary audio feed if it occurs during a non-newscast, the PN said. MVPDs must pass through emergency information on a secondary audio stream, the PN said. Emergency information provided via audio must be accompanied by closed captions, the PN said. The FCC will monitor complaints of violations of this requirement and “review them for possible enforcement action,” the PN warned. Consumers can complain about such violations on the FCC’s website.